establishing a bedtime for 7 month old

i need help.


I need to start getting sophia into a routine where I can put her in her crib for the night -- and NOT at 10pm My goal is to put her in awake (but tired, of course).

She's been killing me lately. Shell go to bed at 10, wake at 3am, and then be up for the day at 530am. I feel like a zombie.

Is this where CIO is gonna come in? Im trying to get her into a bath/book/bottle/bed routine but Im not sure how to go about doing it. Cold turkey, or is it gonna take a while? Has anyone been there? Any suggestions?

Re: establishing a bedtime for 7 month old

I dont know how much help I'll be because I guess I got lucky as DS starts to get cranky around 7pm, so I go with his cues and put him to bed around then. Basically, at around 5 months I noticed he would get cranky and sleepy between 6:30 and 7.

He gets dinner at 6pm, changed and into PJ's at 6:30. We read a story or 2 in the glider (in the dark with nothing but the white noise machine on) and then he goes to bed. He goes in awake and I let him put himself to sleep (he's 9 months now). He moves around and often scootches for a few minutes before actually falling asleep, but he gets there. He sleeps from 7 - 12am, wakes for a bottle and then goes back down until 6 or 7am.

The best advice I can give you is just to see when she seems a little sleepy and put her down. Be consistent for a week or so and she'll eventually get into her own routine.

By the way - your daughter is absolutely adorable! She looks like a little doll. So cute

Re: establishing a bedtime for 7 month old

Like the OP my kids were always tired around 6:30. They go to bed between 6:30-7 and sleep until at least 7:30 most days. They take one nap around 11-12:30 or 1 which I am trying to move up. What i would do in your case is try to put her down 30 mins earlier over a series of nights. OR if you notice her getting cranky and tired earlier set that as her bedtime.

My kids are 17 mos BTW

Re: establishing a bedtime for 7 month old

I wish I had more advice but like the others have said, DS just started to get sleepy around 7ish at 4 months. Since then, we give him his last bottle anywhere from 7-7:30 & he usually falls asleep during. Once asleep, we usually allow him to lay on our bed for about 1 hour (since DH gets home late, it is his time to "bond" while sleeping with DS) & then I transfer him to his crib without troubles. He has been waking at 3am for the past 6 weeks or so just to play but I try to just give him his paci & walk out. Some nights it is not that easy, but once he is back to sleep, he will sleep until 7-7:30.

Can you do more during the day to get your DD tired? I am not a fan of CIO but if you are willing, I would try to give her a bottle closer to 7:30-8 & then put her in the crib & see what happens.

Re: establishing a bedtime for 7 month old

the best advice i can give is the earlier the better. i realized too late with my 1st that i was putting her too bed way too late. once i started 7 pm sharp bedtime things got a lot better. with my DS i did this early on and it helps a lot!
p.s. i did do CIO but my kids weren't the type (thank God) to cry or scream for hours. this definitely helped. they also use a binky so that might be key as far as that is concerned. make sure you start soothing and routine at least an hour before you put her down. so at 6 pm-close blinds, dim lights, bath, pj's, bottle, book(s), put on mobile or aquarium, shut off lights, put baby in crib and walk out. she'll eventually get it if you're consistent! they really really need their sleep!

Message edited 4/18/2010 9:00:43 PM.

Re: establishing a bedtime for 7 month old

Does she take a late afternoon nap? I can't imagine DS being able to stay awake till 10pm. He is a tired mess if he goes to bed after 7. If he doesn't take an afternoon nap then he is down by 6:30. I wouldn't try to go cold turkey on her, maybe you can decrease her bedtime every night by 15 minutes till you get it to the desired time and possibly nix a late afternoon nap.

Re: establishing a bedtime for 7 month old

she's up around 530am and we leave the house at 615 to drive from Danbury CT to the Bronx (1 hr drive). She usually falls asleep for the ride.

Our daycare says she doesnt nap much at all, maybe two 15 min cat naps during the day which is consistant with how she is with us on the weekends

We pick her up at 515ish, then head back to Danbury. I think the problem is that she then naps the whole way home. If we hit traffic she could sleep from 515ish to 630ish, maybe 7. There's no way I can keep her awake in the car. So -- we're home around 630ish. We'll usually unwind/play while DH cooks, I'll bathe her to try to quiet her down. BUT she wants no part of sleep until 10pm most nights. Im sure its the nap in the car but I have to clue how to prevent it

Re: establishing a bedtime for 7 month old

Posted by HomeIsWithU

I dont know how much help I'll be because I guess I got lucky as DS starts to get cranky around 7pm, so I go with his cues and put him to bed around then. Basically, at around 5 months I noticed he would get cranky and sleepy between 6:30 and 7.

He gets dinner at 6pm, changed and into PJ's at 6:30. We read a story or 2 in the glider (in the dark with nothing but the white noise machine on) and then he goes to bed. He goes in awake and I let him put himself to sleep (he's 9 months now). He moves around and often scootches for a few minutes before actually falling asleep, but he gets there. He sleeps from 7 - 12am, wakes for a bottle and then goes back down until 6 or 7am.

The best advice I can give you is just to see when she seems a little sleepy and put her down. Be consistent for a week or so and she'll eventually get into her own routine.

By the way - your daughter is absolutely adorable! She looks like a little doll. So cute

Re: establishing a bedtime for 7 month old

Posted by sweetsurprise09

she's up around 530am and we leave the house at 615 to drive from Danbury CT to the Bronx (1 hr drive). She usually falls asleep for the ride.

Our daycare says she doesnt nap much at all, maybe two 15 min cat naps during the day which is consistant with how she is with us on the weekends

We pick her up at 515ish, then head back to Danbury. I think the problem is that she then naps the whole way home. If we hit traffic she could sleep from 515ish to 630ish, maybe 7. There's no way I can keep her awake in the car. So -- we're home around 630ish. We'll usually unwind/play while DH cooks, I'll bathe her to try to quiet her down. BUT she wants no part of sleep until 10pm most nights. Im sure its the nap in the car but I have to clue how to prevent it

Re: establishing a bedtime for 7 month old

Posted by sweetsurprise09

she's up around 530am and we leave the house at 615 to drive from Danbury CT to the Bronx (1 hr drive). She usually falls asleep for the ride.

Our daycare says she doesnt nap much at all, maybe two 15 min cat naps during the day which is consistant with how she is with us on the weekends

We pick her up at 515ish, then head back to Danbury. I think the problem is that she then naps the whole way home. If we hit traffic she could sleep from 515ish to 630ish, maybe 7. There's no way I can keep her awake in the car. So -- we're home around 630ish. We'll usually unwind/play while DH cooks, I'll bathe her to try to quiet her down. BUT she wants no part of sleep until 10pm most nights. Im sure its the nap in the car but I have to clue how to prevent it

Re: establishing a bedtime for 7 month old

Posted by MrsNicolaxoxo

Posted by sweetsurprise09

she's up around 530am and we leave the house at 615 to drive from Danbury CT to the Bronx (1 hr drive). She usually falls asleep for the ride.

Our daycare says she doesnt nap much at all, maybe two 15 min cat naps during the day which is consistant with how she is with us on the weekends

We pick her up at 515ish, then head back to Danbury. I think the problem is that she then naps the whole way home. If we hit traffic she could sleep from 515ish to 630ish, maybe 7. There's no way I can keep her awake in the car. So -- we're home around 630ish. We'll usually unwind/play while DH cooks, I'll bathe her to try to quiet her down. BUT she wants no part of sleep until 10pm most nights. Im sure its the nap in the car but I have to clue how to prevent it

I personally would try giving her her last feeding and pjs before the long car ride and then trasfering her directly into bed when you get home

Re: establishing a bedtime for 7 month old

Re: establishing a bedtime for 7 month old

That late nap is killing you. She really should be napping during the day. Unfortunately she has gotten into this schedule and the only way to break it is to start getting her to nap during the day so she is not so exhaustedin the car. Or as AP said-make that her bedtime-get her in her PJ's at daycare and just give her a bottle when you get home and put her to bed

Re: establishing a bedtime for 7 month old

but isnt a 530pm bedtime too EARLY? if this is my only option then maybe i'll try it. only problem is - when do I feed her dinner? Bottle isnt a problem, she can have that in the car. But I always give her solids before bed too.


i wish I could get her to nap during the day, but she's never been a napper. even as a 2 week old she rarely slept if the sun was up


we're doomed



last night she went down at 915, was up at 1215 and 430am

i definitely cant keep her up in the car for the hour ride home. im hoping as she gets bigger she'll fall into more of a nap routine at daycare.